Judge shocked at original sentence

A community service order imposed on a 30-year-old man was revoked last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court and replaced with a prison sentence.

Edgar Purvens, Beechcote Avenue, Portadown, had been convicted of exposure on December 2 last year and given 160 hours community service.

But the probation service brought the case back to court to have him re-sentenced because he failed to report for community service and failed to notify them of a change of address.

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District Judge, Mrs Bernie Kelly, said that the direct alternative to community service was going to prison.

She added that she was surprised and shocked that the defendant got community service for the original offence.

The judge said Purvens was ‘exceptionally lucky’ to get a community based disposal and then chose not to do it.

She revoked the community service order and imposed a three month prison sentence along with a £25 offender’s levy.

Later in the court Purvens was released on bail pending appeal against the sentence.

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